PARENTS had some help learning about the new child car seat laws when an expert from Halfords dropped in at the Key Day Nursery in Chippenham to give some advice.

From this Monday all children under 12 who are less then 135cm tall have to use a child seat or a booster seat when travelling in a car.

But many parents are still confused.

Kate Young, manager at the Key Day Nursery in The Causeway, said: "The main reason I set this up is because some parents are panicking about it.

"They are saying to us - what should we be getting? I thought we should do something to give them peace of mind."

The Halfords store sent along one of their fitters to welcome parents when they arrived on Monday morning, between 7.45am and 9.10am.

He offered to check out their car seats and gave advice on what they needed to do. Around 15 cars were given the once over inspection.

"Quite a few parents were happy for him to check their seats to make sure they were safe," said Ms Young.

"Parents were very positive about it. They are aware of the new laws but not 100 per cent sure what's expected of them, and some parents are quite confused by it."

However, she said that generally the new law had been welcomed.

Halfords also give some tips on encouraging children back into a booster seat.

They suggest discussing the safety implications with them. A child could be seriously or fatally injured if travelling without the appropriate restraint.

Peer pressure could also be a factor and Halfords suggests parents take a united approach to ensure children know that all their friends are also getting new seats.

Inspector Neil Bagnall, of Chippenham Police, said they were planning a local publicity campaign to inform parents about the new rules.

"It is the responsibility of parents to ensure children are restrained properly when travelling by car," he said.

"Police officers routinely stop vehicles to ensure drivers have the correct documentation, and if they find people are not following the rules on child seats, action will be taken."

Fact file

The Government believes the new regulations could prevent 2,000 injuries a year.

  • The changes mean children aged under 12 must use a child seat or booster when they travel in cars and goods vehicles until they are 4' 5'' (135cm) tall.
  • Taller children and those aged over 12 will have to use adult belts.
  • There are some specific practical exemptions - for taxis and emergency vehicles, and for children over three, short journeys in an unexpected necessity.
  • A £30 fixed penalty can be issued if people break the rules, or a maximum fine of £500 if the case goes to court.